Croatia records highest inflation rate in EU in March

ZAGREB, 31 March 2026 – Croatia continues to rank among the European Union countries with the highest inflation, according to new preliminary data measuring price changes across the bloc.

The Croatian Bureau of Statistics published figures based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) show that annual inflation in Croatia reached 4.7% in March 2026, placing the country near the top of the EU inflation table.

The data, compiled by Eurostat, compares both annual and monthly price growth across EU member states.

The latest figures show that Croatia recorded the highest annual inflation rate in the EU.

According to the March comparison:

• Croatia: 4.7% annual inflation, 1.2% monthly increase

• Lithuania: 4.5% annual inflation

• Slovakia: 3.7%

• Ireland: 3.6%

• Latvia: 3.6%

Other major EU economies recorded lower rates. For example: • Germany: 2.8%

• France: 1.9%

• Italy: 1.5%

Monthly inflation in Croatia also increased, rising 1.2% compared with February 2026.

Prices in Croatia rise sharply year-on-year

Separate preliminary estimates measuring consumer prices nationally show that overall prices for goods and services for personal consumption were 4.8% higher in March 2026 compared with March 2025.

On a monthly basis, prices were 1.4% higher than in February 2026.

(Eurostat)

Energy and services driving inflation

The largest price increases were recorded in energy and services.

Estimated annual price changes by category were:

• Energy: +11.3%

• Services: +7.8%

• Food, beverages and tobacco: +3.9%

• Industrial non-food products (excluding energy): −0.6%

Energy costs were therefore the strongest driver of inflation during the period.

Looking at monthly changes between February and March 2026, the largest increases were again seen in energy.

Euro area #inflation expected to be at 2.5% in March 2026, up from 1.9% in February 2026. Components: services +3.2%, food, alcohol & tobacco +2.4%, other goods +0.5%, energy +4.9% – flash estimate https://t.co/5VAWkiXChU pic.twitter.com/28DnjrZAZm

— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) March 31, 2026

The March inflation figures are preliminary estimates. Final consumer price data, classified according to the ECOICOP system, will be released on 16 April 2026.

Eurozone HICP estimates for March are available on the Eurostat website.